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Message  of  John 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #254 

DTTDTD143Z 


MESSAGE 


Of 


GOV.   JOHN  J.        'TT' 


NOVEMBER,    1861 


Exec  jtive  Offigb,      ) 
jacUeon,  Mis*.,  N  II.  S 

of  Ike  Senate  and  Rouse  of  Rc%  rcsentalivcs : — 

The  two  years  which  have  elapsed  sincelhe  laut    regulai 
sion   of  the   Legislature,  have  been  marked  by   events   of  more 
vital  i  r  portance  to  the  people, of  Mississippi 
transpired  sinee  the  formation  of  thcfc§'ate.  I 

The  Federal  Union,  which  was  vainly  stamp- 
has  been  dissolved  by  the  withdrawal  of  eleten  of  the  sovereign 
States  which  composed  it.  For  the  statement  of  the  causey  which 
led  to  this  separation,  and  the  par-  which  Mississippi  acted,  I  must 
refer  you  to  the  legislation  oi  the  Convention  of  the  people  of  thn 
State,  and  the  several  extra  sessions  of  the  Legislature,  which! 
deemed  it  my  duty  to  convoke.  The  wisdom  «•«<!  necessity  of  thre 
action  have  ceased  to  be  subjects  of  debate 
seceded  Slates. 

With  a  unanimity  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  republican  gov- 
ernments,  the  people  of  this  State  have  decided  that  the  adminis- 
M— 1 


bevwaen  citizens  of 


tuition  of  the  Federal  Government  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
would  be  destructive  of  the  ends  for  which  governments  are  in- 
etituted  among  men,  and  have  instituted  a  new  government,  lay- 
ing  its  foundations  on  such  principles,  and  organizing  its  powers 
in  such  form  as  to  them  seems  most  likely  to  effect  their  happiness 
and  safety. 

Whether  we  shall  be  permitted  to  exercise  this  unquestionable 
and  inestimable  right  of  sovereign  States,  or  be  subjugated  and 
governed  at  the  will  of  a  Northern  despot,  is  the  grave  question 
which  is  now  being  debated  on  bloodier  fields,  and  with  larger 
armies  than  this  continent  has  heretofore  known';  and  until  it  is 
decided  in  our  favor,  which  is  the  only  question  worthy  the  at- 
tention  of  public  or  private  men,  for  if  decided  against  us,  all  for 
which  freemen  should  wish  to  live  is  lost  to  us  and  our  children 
forever. 

Then  to  place  Mississippi  in  the  best  condition  to  exert  her  full 
force  in  rendering  this  conflict  successful,  is  certainly  the  first 
duty,  and  I  doubt  not  will  be  the  chief  aim  of  the  present  Legis« 
lature. 

The  most  obvious  means  of  accomplishing  this,  is  the  adoption 
of  means  to  render  more  comfortable  and  healthy,  and  conse- 
quently more  efficient,  the  volunteers  who  are  now  bravely  bear- 
ing all  the  hardships  incident  to  a  soldier's  life.  A  more  regular 
and  efficient  mode  of  supplying  them  with  clothing  is  imperative- 
ly demanded. 

The  law  enacted  at  the  last  session  of  the  Legislature,  author* 
izing  the  Boards  of  Police  of  the  several  counties  to  levy  a  tax 
sufficient  to  provide  clothing  for  the  companies  of  their  respective 
counties,  operates  unequally,  and  in  some  instances  oppressively. 
Some  counties  with  but  little  wealth  have  furnished  from  ten  to 
fifteen  companies,  while  others,  with  more  than  double  the  wealth 
have  furnished  but  two  or  three.  The  poorer  counties  are  thus 
required  to  bear  more  than  a  just  ratio  in  supporting  the  war.  I 
suggest  the  propriety  of  providing  clothing  at  the  expense  of  the 
State,  thus  placing  the  burthen  of  sustaining  the  troops  on  the 
property  which  they  are  defending ;  or  if  deemed  best,  the  State 
could  be  reimbursed  for  this  oikiay,  by  receiving  from  the  Con- 
federate States  the  commutation  money  due  the  troops  and  thus 
only  act  as  an  agent  to  facilitate  the  conversion  of  the  commutation 
money  into  suitable  clothing. 

Tbe  provisions  of  the  law  cf  1887,  giving  to  members  of  volun- 
teer companies  nine  dollars  per  annum,  was  extended  by  ordinance 
of  the  Convention,  to  all  volunteers  who  should  be  mustered  into 
the  service  of  the  State  under  the  military  ordinance  of  said  Con- 
vention. Many  companies  having  entered  the  Confederate  ser- 
vice without  being  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  State,  have 
not  received  the  benefit  of  this  provision  and  complain  of  this  dis- 
crimination against  them.     I  respectfully   suggest  the  propriety 


Fjooj-e  m 


and  justice  of  placing  all  on  an  equa\  footing  in  this  respect,  and 
giving  to  companies  which  have  gone  directly  into  the  Confeder- 
ate  service  similar  advantages  with' those  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  State. 

When  this  matter  was  under  corii'deration  in  the  Convention 
no  other  mode  of  raising  volunteers lhan  that  provided  for  in  the 
ordinance  referred  to,  was  thought  j,  and  this  accounts  for  the 
seeming  partiality.  If  any  discriminition  is  made,  it  should  bs  fo 
favor  of,  and  not  against  volunteers  w|o  enlist  for  the  war. 

From  the  report  of  the  Adjutant  GWral  herewith  transmitted, 
it  will  be  seen  that  Mississippi  has  no[  in  the  Confederate  service 
twenty-two  regiments  and  one  battalih  of  infantry,  one  regiment 
and  fourteen  companies  of  calvary  aH  eleven  companies  of  ar- 
tillery,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  tubout  23,000;  the  number 
not  definitely  stated,  for  the  reason  th  several  of  the  regiments 
have  no  muster  rollson  file  at  the  Ad  tant  General's  office.  To 
this  estimate  should  be  added  a  consi  rable  number  of  indepen- 
dent  companies  tendered  directly  to  t:  Confederate  Authorities, 
and  ordered  to  Missouri,  Kentucky  o  Virginia,  probably  fifteen 
companies,  making  the  number  over  ioOO. 

When    this  number  shall    be  furthJ  increased  by  the    thir-y 
companies  enlisted  for  the  war,  now  ileamps    in  the  State,  ind 
the  companies    now  rapidly  sending    iatheir  tenders    of  service 
under   the  recent  call  of  Major  Generl  A.    S.    Johnston  for  ten 
thousand  troops,  the  aggregate  will  exfed  35,000,  which  is  pro- 
bably a  larger  proportion  of  the  adult  lale  population,  than  any 
State  or  nation  has  sent  forth  to  war  inlodern  times  ;  and  when 
it  is  remembered  that  not  one  of  all  the|  thousands  has  been 
quired  by  law  to  enter  the  service,  or  < 
save  their  patriotic  desire    to  stand   bet 
enemies,  Mississippi  may  well  feel  prouc  f  her  volunteer  de; 
ers  and   cheerfully   bear  any    burthen    cessary  to  cherish  aud 
sustain  them. 

In  the  month  of  August  last,  the  eigh  egiments  ordered  to  be 
raised  by  the  ordinance  of  the  Conventii ,  adopted  23d  of  Janu- 
ary, 1861,  were  completed. 

Believing  that  the  Federal  Governme   would  invade  the  sea- 
shore  and  cotton    shipping  ports  of  the  south  this  fall,  and  that 
the  Confederate  Government  would  requ  e  a  large  force  to  meet 
that  invasion,  I  ordered  the  eight  regiment  into  camps  of  instruc- 
tion, that  they  might  be  inured  to  camp  Ire,  get  over  the  diseases 
incident  to  camps,  be  instructed  and  driili,  and  thus  rendered  tit 
representatives   of  Mississippi  on  the  batpfield,   and   capable  of 
doing  credit  to  themselves  and  service  to  lie  Confederacy.     I  ex- 
pected  that  they  would  go  from  these  carts  into  the  Confederate 
service,  and  the  result  has  verified  my  exfpctalions,  and  they  have 
all  been  mustered  into  that  service,  and  In  thousand  more  called 
for  by  the  Confederate  authorities  (o  refcl  the  desperate  efforts 


strained  by   any  fore 
ten  the  State  and 


now  being  made  to  subjugate  the  seceding  States.  Having  these 
troops  in  camps,  I  was  enabled  promptly  to  respond  to  the  urgent 
calls  of  Generals  Johnston  and  Polk  for  help  in  Kentucky,  where 
four  of  the  regiments  hae  been  sent,  and  to  meet  the  demand 
for  more  troops  on  the  sa  shore,  although  many  ot  my  fellow- 
citizens  have  differed  wth  me  in  opinion,  in  regard  to  the  neces- 
sity or  propriety  of  this  teasure.  Now  when  the  plans  ot  the 
enemy  are  more  fully  deeloped,  my  onl)  regret  in  the  matter  is, 
that  Mississippi  did  not  ave  more  troops  better  drilled  and  better 
equipped,  ready  to  meet  ie  hosts  of  enemies  now  threatening  her 
on  the  North  and  on  thfSouth. 

To  facilitate  forming  nd  sustaining  these  camps  of  instruction, 
the  Brigadier  Genera  were  furnished  with  Treasury  Notes 
and  required  to  convas  their  brigadier  districts,  and  exchange 
the  note?,  if  practical)!,  for  money,  and  buy  camp  equipage, 
provisions,  and  arms  ■  every  description,  which  could  be  made 
available  for  military  nrposes.  Double-barrel  shot  guns  and 
hunting  rifles  were  thuobtained  to  the  number  of  three  or  four 
thousand,  and  are  no^being  altered  or  repaired  in  this  city  and 
to  Aberdeen.  Many  f  them  have  already  been  sent  to  the 
tk>ops  in  Kentucky  anio  those  in  camp  at  Enterprise.  All  other 
sources  of  supply  of  ;ms  having  failed,  I  resorted  to  this  as  a 
matter  of  necessity,  Hieving  that  should  we  not  be  able  to  get 
better  arms  before  thenemy  came,  our  volunteers  would  be  able 
to  exchange  them  foretter  after  their  first  battle. 

The  Convention  othe  State  in  January  last,  authorized  and 
provided  for  the  issuu;of  one  million  of  Treasury  notes  or  bonds, 
to  be  sold  and  the  joceeds  used  in  the  defense  of  the  State.-— 
Fihding  it  impossible  >  effect  the  sale  of  a  sufficient  amount  of  these 
notes  for  gold  and  sibr,  to  meet  the  heavy  expenses  incident  te 
raising  and  providingin  outfit  for  the  large  number  of  troops  re- 
quired from  this  Stat  I  have  exercised  a  discretion  which  I  be- 
lieve  is  given  me  by  ic  ordinance,  and  caused  these  notes  to  be 
used  as  money  in  thepurchase  of  arms,  accoutrements,  equipage 
and  supplies  which  \*re  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the  State. 
in  thus  acting,  I  deeied  that  I  was  carrying  out  the  spirit  of  the 
ordinance,  and  effectig  the  manifest  purpose  and  intention  of  the 
Convention  in  the  on/  manner  practicable. 

The  financial  conation  of  the  State,  requires  and  will  doubU 
less  receive  your  mat  earnest  consideration.  How  best  to  meet 
(he  requirements  of  he  Confederate  and  State  Government,  for 
the  necessary  funds  o  defray  the  extraordinary  expenses  of  the 
present  war,  is  a  quetion  which  has,  and  will  continue  to  engage 
the  attention  of  both  Confederate  and  State  Legislatures  during 
the  war, 

Some  well  digested  financial  scheme  is  now  the  most  pressing 
want  of  the  country.    The  people  of  this  State  dependent  almost 


entirely  on  the  sale  of  cotton  for  money,  having  no  large  cities 
whose  capital  is  accumulated,  and  no  bank,  and  having  spent  the 
ready  money  on  hand  at  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  in  fitting 
out  their  sons  for  the  field,  will  be  peculiarly  embarrassed  in  pay. 
ing  their  taxes,  unless  some  plan  can  be  devised  by  which  cotton 
can  be  converted  into  the  means  of  payment. 

If  this  can  be  done,  then  all  trouble  on    this  subject   vanishes, 
and  the  Confederate  Government   might   double    the    tax,  and  it 
would  be  paid  as  cheerfully  as  the  most   moderate   State  tax  was 
ever  paid;  but  unless  cotton  can  be  thus  exchange*,  my  deliberate 
opinion  is  that  the  present  tax  cannot  be  paid.  Various  plans  for 
effecting  this  object  have  been   presented  to  the   country,   none  of 
which  seem  to  have  met  with  general   approbation.     One  which 
appears  to  be  favored  at  Richmond,  is  to  induce  the  banks  to  ad- 
vance  their  notes  on  cotton  and    other  produce.     If   the    banks 
would  consent   to  this,  it  seems  to  me,  liable  to  two   very    serious 
objections,    First,  That  the  people  would  be  required  topay  large 
sums  as  interest  for  the  use  of  the  notes   of  banks,  which    do  not 
redeem  them  uith  specie.     Second,    that   after   the   Government 
shall  have  received  and  paid  out  this  paper  currency  and  the  country 
flooded  with  bank  paper,  what  guarantee  is  offered  that  the  interest 
paid  by  the  people  will  be  the  only  loss  sustained  by  them  in  the 
transaction,  and  that  the  Bank  paper  thus  put  in  circulation  will  be 
nnally  redeemed.     If  we  must  rely  on  a   paper  currency,  during 
the  continuance  of  the  blockade,  which  I  believe  is   admitted  by 
all,  would  it  not  be  both  cheaper  and  safer   for   the    Confederate 
Government  to  make  that  paper  currency   by    issuing   Treasury 
notes  to  the  full  amount  of  the  wants  of  the  Government ;  the  Leg. 
islatures  of  the  several  States  might  materially  aid  in  giving  these 
notes  a  continued  currency  by  making  them  receivable  at  the  State 
Treasury,  for  all  State  dues,  and  the  tax  for   their  ultimate  pay. 
isent  be  collected  on  the  raising  of  the  blockade  ;  and  if  necessary, 
it  might  be  made  double  or  treble  the  present  rate,  and  it  would 
be  less  burthensome  and  more  cheerfully  paid.  I  respectfully  sug- 
gest the  propriety  of  an  early  consideration  of  this  grave   subject 
%  the  Legislature,  and   that   such   instructions    be  given  to  the 
members  of  the  Confederate  Congress  from  this  State,  as  the  as- 
fienibled  representatives  of  the  people,  coming  fresh   from  them, 
and  informed  fully  of  their  present  condition,  may  deem  best  cal- 
•ulated  to  promote  the  success  of  our  cause,   and  interest  of  the 
•tate  ;  with  this  assurance,  however,  to  the  Confederate  States  Con- 
gress, assembled  at  Richmond,  that  Mississippi  will,  to  the  full  ex- 
tent of  her  power  and  means,  strive  to   make  successful    any  plan 
Wnich  may  be  adopted  by  the  Confederate  Congress. 

Let  the  Confederate  Government  bo  assured  that  the  patient 
fortitude  of  the  people  at  home,  to  bear  any  and  all  sacrifices  ne- 
cessary for  a  successful  prosecution  of  this  war,  is  equal  to  the 
daring  heroism  of  our  troops  in  the  field,  Jinx'  ' 


6 

duct  this  struggle  to  a  glorious  termination,  and  dictate  terms  of 
peace,  without  abating  one  jot  or  tittle  of  our  just  rights. 

Our  people  may  well  endure  the  privations  of  a  few  years  of 
war,  consoled  by  the  reflection,  that  for  them,  with  returning  peace, 
comes  renewed  prosperity  :  while  to  our  foes,  no  peace  can  restore 
their  former  prosperity,  when  bootless  and  baffled  they  are  driven 
back  to  survey  the  ruin  brought  on  their  country  by  their  own 
folly.  They  might  well  be  addressed  in  the  language  of  the  veiled 
Prophet  to  his  deluded  followers,  "Ye  would  be  dupes  and  victims, 
and  ye  are. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the  two  sections 
of  the  United  States,  a  company  of  volunteers  took  possession  of 
the  Federal  property  on  Ship  Island.  At  the  suggestion  of  the 
Military  Board,  the  perishable  portton  of  the  property  was  order- 
ed to  be  sold,  and  tho  net  proceeds,  amounting  to  something  over 
nine  hundred  dollars,  turned  over  to  Block,  McAfee  &  Co.,  of  New 
Orleans,  who  were  then  purchasing  powder  and  other  munitions  of 
war  for  the  State,  and  has  been  accounted  for  in  their  account 
current  with  the  State, 

Some  complaints  have  been  made  to  me  of  inconvencies  result- 
ing from  the  absence  of  civil  officers,  who  have  enlisted  as  volun- 
teers.  Believing  that  no  power  has  been  conferred  on  the  Gov- 
ernor to  declare  or  fill  vacancies  in  such  cases,  I  have  taken  no 
actio;,  and  now  refer  it  to  your  wisdom  to  devise  whatever  reme- 
dy may  be  deemed  eipedient. 

For  a  detailed  account  of  the  expenditures  of  the  State  Govern- 
ment for  the  last  two  years,  I  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  the  Audi- 
tor and  Treasurer,  now  being  prepared. 

A  very  large  proportion  of  these  expenditures  have  been  incur- 
red for  munitions  of  war,  most  of  which  have  been  turned  over  to 
the  Confederate  Government,  with  troops  sent  from  this  State,  and 
are  claimed  and  admitted  to  be  advances  from  the  State  to  the 
Confederate  Government,  accounts  for  which,  amounting  to  over 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  were  sent  to  Richmond  in  August 
last,  and  seventy.four  thousand  audited  and  paid  in  Confederate 
Treasury  notes;  and  a  recent  letter  from  the  Treasurer  of  the  Con- 
federate States,  informs  me  that  the  balance  is  now  being  Audited 
and  will  shortly  be  settled.  I  have  ordered  a  further  account  to  be 
taken,  of  advances  in  munitions  of  war  and  provisions,  made  sfnce 
August,  to  be  sent  on  to  Richmond,  which  will  amount  to  several 
hundred  thousand  more. 

For  a  full  report  of  all  munitions  of  war  and  provisions  thus 
turned  over  to  the  Confederate  Government,  I  respectfully  refer 
you  to  the  reports  of  the  Quarter-Master  General  and  Chief;  of 
Ordnance. 

At  the  last  regular  session  of  the  Legislature  an  appropriation 
of  ten  thousand  dollars  was  made  for  repairing  and  painting  the 
Capitol.     Failing  to  get  the   painting   contracted   for  at   prices 


which  I  thought  the  Stat©  ought  to  pay,  no  contract  for  that  por- 
tion of  the  work  was  made.  Contracts  for  repairing  the  stone 
work  and  porticos,  and  for  repairing  the  roof  were  entered  into, 
and  a  portion  of  the  work  done.  The  stone  work  at  each  end  of 
the  portico  has  been,  braced  with  bars  of  iron  to  prevent  any  of 
the  stones  falling ;  and  the  roof  repaired  thoroughly.  All  the 
work  done  amounts  to  but  a  few  hundred  dollars,  and  that  has  not 
been  paid  lor  the  reason  that  the  contractors  volunteered  and  left 
for  the  war  before  the  work  was  completed. 

The  Ordinance  of  the  Convention  creating  a  Military  Board, 
and  giving  to  it  power  to  prescribe  rules  and  regulations  for  the 
government  of  the  troops  of  this  State,  provided  that  such  action 
of  the  Board  should  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Convention 
or  the  Legislature,  when  the  Convention  should  have  finally  ad- 
journed. At  the  last  called  session  of  the  Legislature  a  full 
transcript  of  all  the  action  ef  the  Board  was  sent  to  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  I  presume  is  now  with  the  papers  of  the 
unfinished  business  of  that  session,  and  I  respectfully  call  the  sub- 
ject to  the  consideration  of  the  present  Legislature  ;  aftd  herewith 
transmit  a  printed  copy  of  the  orders  of  said  Board, at  its  earlier 
and  most  important  sessions.  The  main  purpose  for  which  this 
Board  was  created,  the  organizing  and  putting  troops  in  the  field 
having  been  accomplished,  a  loss  expAnelvo  au<l  l«eo  complicated 
system  for  the  administration  of  the  Military  affairs  of  the  State 
might  be  devised. 

It  is  my  painful  duty  to  inform  you  that  Col.  E.  R.  Burt,  Audi- 
tor  of  Public  Accounts,  fell  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Leesburg,  while  gallantly  leading  a  Regiment  of  Mississippi's 
brave  sons  to  one  of  the  most  brilliant  victories  which  has  crown- 
ed our  arms  during  the  war.  While  we  honor  the  brave  dead, 
and  feel  that  his  deeds  have  shed  lustre  on  the  State  of  Missis- 
sippi, and  acknowledge  that  his  life  was  sacrificed  in  rendering 
the  most  valuable  service  which  a  citizen  can  perform  for  a  free 
people,  repelling  invaders  who  seek  to  enslave  them,  would  it  not 
be  well  for  the  State  to  remember  that  those  who  depended  on 
hiin  for  the  cherishing  care  of  a  father  and  husband,  are  left 
with  us,  and  may  need  assistance  which  he  can  give  no  more  ? 
For  these  reasons  I  recommend  that  such  provision  be  made  by 
the  State  for  the  family  as  their  circumstances  may  be  found  to 
require. 

The  magnitude  and  duration  of  the  war  in  which  we  are  en- 
gaged, I  fear,  have  not  been  fully  appreciated,  The  vast  inter- 
ests involved  exceed  anything  contended  for  by  armies  in  modern 
times.  The  North,  contending  for  the  absolute  control  of  the 
hundreds  of  millions  of  the  teeming  annual  Svealth  of  Southern 
fields,  will  not  b&  easily  driven  from  their  pretensions  to  the  right 
to  plunder  us,  and  will  doubtless  submit  to  any  sacrifices  so  long 
as  hope  remains  of  so  rich  a  conquest.     While   the   Southern 


8 

States  battling  in  defense  of  property,  honor,  life,  all  for  which 
freemen  should  wish  to  live,  cannot  abandon  the  conflict  no  matter 
what  sacrifices  may  be  required  to  be  made  in  its  continuance. 
We  must  triumph  or  perish !  Let  the  legislative  action  of  the 
State  speak  this  to  our  frauds  and  foes  as  the  action  of  our  troops 
on  the  field  has  spoken  if,  and  the  conflict  may  be  shortened  and 
victory  will  be  insured. 

I  canno*  in  justice, close  this  Message  without  paying  a  heart- 
felt  tribute  to  the  patrjj&ic.  elf. sacrificing  devotion  exhibited  by 
the  women  of  >pi.     If  our   brave  defenders  are  supplied 

with  clothing  sufficient  to  keep  She  field  in  the  winter  campaign, 
the  country  will  be  iw;  it  to  the  patient  toil  of  the  daugh. 

ters  of  the  South; 

the   God  who   re  ,.m  I-  virtue  and  defends  the  right,  blest 
them  and  shield  those  for  vhom  they  have  toiled. 

JOHN  J.  PETTUS. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH8.5 


